Hamas is facing an “unprecedented battle” with Israel, the terror group’s leader in Gaza has said, in his first public message since the Oct 7 attacks.
Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have been one of the masterminds of the devastating terror attack on Israel, rejected any possibility of compromising to end the war.
Hamas, he said in a letter published by Al Jazeera on Monday, is “fighting a fierce, violent and unprecedented battle against the Israeli occupation forces, and the occupation army suffered heavy losses in life and equipment”.
He falsely claimed that his terrorist forces had killed more than a thousand Israeli soldiers. According to Israel, 156 soldiers have died in the ground operation in Gaza.
Sinwar, the highest ranking Hamas official still holed up in Gaza, was defiant about Israel’s advance across Gaza. He pledged to smash Israel’s forces and vowed Hamas “will not be subject to the conditions of occupation”.
He appeared to be referring to ongoing discussions over a potential deal with Israel.
Egypt reportedly drafted a comprehensive plan that would see a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the release of all Israeli hostages and talks to establish an inclusive Palestinian government in Gaza under the auspices of Egypt.
Ceasefire proposal
Hamas has not officially commented on the proposal, which was due to be discussed by the Israeli government on Monday evening.
After the war began following the Hamas onslaught on Oct 7, Israel vowed to eradicate the terror group in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed in recent weeks that it was close to catching Sinwar, who is believed to be hiding in the terrorist group’s extensive network of tunnels.
The Hamas leader has not been seen in public since the Oct 7 attack, and the IDF earlier this month dropped flyers on Gaza, promising a $400,000 (£315,000) bounty for information on his whereabouts.
Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, on Friday said the IDF was gradually completing its objectives in northern Gaza, adding that Sinwar will soon “meet the barrels of our guns”.
Signup bonus from
